WineMasters Class

Sparkling wines might be some of the most technical wines in the world, since you need 2 fermentations, one to make the wine the other to make the bubbles. And there are different ways to make sparkling wine. We'll highlight the following methods: the traditional method, the transfer method, the Charmat or tank method, and the ancestral method and explain their differences.

The Spanish wine region Ribera del Duero is known for producing some of Spain's most admired red wines from the Temperanillo grape together with several Bordeaux grape varieties. Ribera del Duero has an extreme continental climate and most of the vineyards can be found up to 950 meters above sea level. Cool nights help maintain the grapes' freshness and acidity and extend the ripening process.

The southwestern part of France and the island of Corsica are treasure troves of undiscovered appellations and little-known grapes. Like Côt in Cahors, Fer Servadou, also known as Braucol, grows mostly in the appellations of Marcillac and Gaillac. In Corsica the most known varieties are Italian but have local names. Nielluccio is Sangiovese and Sciacerrello is Mammolo.

Canada is famous for some of the most delicious ice wines in the world. Because of the cold climate, hardy hybrid grapes have been dominant, but now more and more vinifera grape varieties are being planted successfully. And with climate change being an ever-greater factor in the wine world, within the next 20- or 30-years Canada as cool climate country could potentially take center stage.

After the episode on the white wines of Burgundy, we'll now take you on a trip through the Côte d'Or to find some of the best red wines in the world. These wines are made of Pinot Noir, an ancient native grape variety. The grape is only a few generations removed from the wild vines that grew naturally in the area. We'll explain the importance of terroir and the classification levels.

This episode is very different from the others. Now that we covered the most important wine regions in the world, exploring new places and the classics, we would like to help you further on your way to developing your own ideas about wine. You'll learn how to choose wines from a wine list, pair wines with food and get tips on how to store your wines, serve them and create your own collection.